The Hidden-Camera Incident

"Who would do something like that when they've got nothing better to do? I was planning to get my fortune told."

That evening, while Class C was holding a study session, a girl complained in a hushed voice.

"Exactly. And he called it superstition. What is he, some kind of savage who's never even heard of fortune-telling?" The girl speaking, Sawahara thought, was probably called Ohara Nanako.

Listening to them complain, Sawahara didn't care in the slightest. He simply made a quiet note of their names in his mind. They might come in handy someday.

Two days later, summer vacation was nearing its end. According to the duty roster the Student Council president had set up earlier, he was in charge of maintaining order around the pool.

Perhaps it was because summer vacation was almost over? The pool was unusually crowded today. Besides the people from Class B, including Ichinose, whom he already knew would be coming, some students from Class D had shown up as well.

"Hold on a moment, please." Sawahara stopped several boys from Class D who were about to enter the men's locker room.

He remembered their names... Yamauchi, Ike, and Sudo, right?

"You seem to have brought quite a lot of stuff." Sawahara looked at the backpack on Ike's back, who was walking at the rear.

Did they really need such a large backpack at the pool? It would have made sense if they'd put everyone's things in one bag, but it was obvious that each person was carrying their own tote. In other words, they all had their own personal belongings. That made the things in the backpack rather suspicious.

"What's the problem? We just brought some... water guns. Toy water guns, that's all." The boys' faces stiffened, and in the end Ike stammered out an excuse.

"I see. Can I check?" Sawahara didn't believe Ike for a second. The way they were lying was far too obvious.

"Why should you?"

"You're violating our privacy!" At Sawahara's words, Yamauchi clutched the backpack tightly to his chest. His argument sounded reasonable enough, but his bluster betrayed his nerves.

"I'm just concerned that whatever's in your backpack might pose a safety risk." Sawahara was certain that the three in front of him were planning to do something they shouldn't.

"But privacy rights are important..." Sawahara appeared to be thinking it over.

"How about this? You go get changed, and leave the backpack here. I'll look after it for you." Sawahara gave the three one last chance. "Then, whenever you need something, you can take it from the bag. That's more convenient than running back and forth from the locker room."

He already had an idea of what these three were planning. There was no doubt it was a crime. If they had even a little sense, they would agree. Afterward, at most, he'd make them pay up for whatever they had in their bag.

"No way. What if you snoop through our stuff? Privacy rights, you know? Ever heard of them?" Yamauchi kept shouting.

For some reason, Sawahara suddenly felt like laughing. They were planning to do something like that, yet here they were going on about privacy rights.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Asshole, are you making fun of us?"

"No, I just thought of something funny." Sawahara wiped the smile from his face. Since they'd made their choice, they must have accepted the consequences.

"I hope you have a pleasant day." Because you might never get another chance to enjoy one.

Sawahara stepped aside and let Ike and the other two go in.

The three came back out before long. They hadn't changed; the only thing that was gone was the backpacks they'd been carrying.

Had they left them in the locker room?

When those guys showed up again, they had a few more people with them. It looked like they'd put a lot of effort into their plan. Kushida Kikyo and Horikita Suzune... It wasn't easy to get them to come out.

Kushida Kikyo greeted him with her usual angelic smile. Horikita's gaze, on the other hand, was complicated: envy, jealousy, disgust... What on earth had the Student Council president said to her last time?

"Good morning, Sawahara. Kikyo..." Ichinose and her friends arrived at the pool at about the same time.

Ichinose waved excitedly as she greeted Sawahara and the people from Class D.

"Good morning, Ichinose." Sawahara thought for a moment, then smiled. "I happen to have something about the Student Council I'd like to talk to you about. Could I borrow a few minutes?"

"Huh? Then, Komako, you guys go get changed first. I'll be there soon," Ichinose told her friends.

Once the students from Class 1-D had left, Sawahara turned to Ichinose and spoke.

"Ichinose, could I ask you to check the women's locker room?"

"Huh? Why haven't any of the girls come out yet? Does it really take that long just to change into swimsuits?"

Only after Ike and the others from Class D had finished changing and come out did they realize there wasn't a single girl in the pool.

"Come on, they're girls. Of course it takes them a long time to get changed," Yamauchi said in a knowing tone.

Sawahara walked around the pool, waiting for word from Ichinose.

Why hadn't a single girl come out? Of course, it was because of Sawahara. After becoming suspicious of the Class D students' behavior, he'd put up a sign at the entrance to the women's locker room.

"Safety inspection in progress. Temporarily closed."

"Is this someone's idea of a prank?"

"Probably not."

The girls waiting to change crowded around the locker room entrance and whispered among themselves.

"If they're going to inspect it, why didn't they do it earlier?"

The girls were filled with frustration and annoyance.

Seeing their reaction, Ichinose quickened her pace, hoping to finish the inspection as soon as possible and reopen the women's locker room.

"I don't see anything wrong..." Ichinose walked around the women's locker room but didn't find anything unusual.

Bzz—

"Huh? Was that some kind of buzzing sound?" Ichinose was about to leave when she suddenly heard a buzzing noise. She listened closely and realized it was coming from the ventilation duct.

"What is this...?" The moment Ichinose saw what was inside the duct, her face changed.

"Sorry, everyone, but the locker room will have to remain closed for now." After getting word from Ichinose, Sawahara went straight to find a staff member.

Once they opened the ventilation duct, they found a toy car parked inside, with a camera mounted on it.

"Well, well. That's quite an inventive plan, Class D. But since you've made your choice, it's time to face the consequences."